Word's context made it offensive
With all due respect to the Rev. Alapaki Kim and his explanation of the literal and original meaning of the word "haole" ("Letters," Feb. 26
), there was a slight fallacy in his explanation of it not being a racial epithet. He forgot to take one thing into account: context.
For instance, the word "nigger" wasn't always considered a racial slur for blacks. More than 100 years ago, it also was used descriptively, just as "haole" is used today. That being said, as a black man, I don't get too worked up when reading Mark Twain or Charles Dickens, because it was a different time period and I understand the context of what they meant to say when they used that word in their books.
Despite "elelu kea" being the real derogatory term for whites in the Hawaiian language, it's the context of how the word "haole" allegedly was used by the young man that makes it a racial epithet, not its actual definition. In his anger, he meant it to be one, so it became one. Much like if someone said, "F---ing (insert ethnicity)!" in anger.
Instead of contemplating what was said, the question we should be asking ourselves is, Had this been reversed, or had whites done this to someone of any other race (racial epithets included), would the majority of our reactions to the prosecutor's decision of this not being a hate crime be the same?
Let federal courts prosecute the case
I commiserate with Sarah Yamanaka in her Feb. 23 letter
, who was horrified by the brutal beating of a military family over an apparent fender bender. I was equally horrified by the lackadaisical treatment of this heinous crime (both victims received broken jaws and other injuries) by the local court. The judge set bail for one of the alleged attackers at $20,000, a ridiculously low amount considering the brutality of the offense.
Given that the alleged assault was racially motivated, this incident should be elevated to a "hate crime" and taken over by the Hawaii federal prosecutor. If ever a crime in Hawaii deserved to be designated a hate crime, this incident fits the description. I don't offer this recommendation lightly, but given that the local judges have helped create a revolving door for hate-filled predators such as the alleged perpetrator in this case, who was arrested previously for beating his son, a federal remedy might be the only solution.
Adults' private acts aren't state's business
Melvin Partido's letter to the editor Sunday
states that God sets the standards for marriage.
Partido seems to think he has the right to force his religious convictions on us all. His problem has to do with sex between two adults.
As long as the adults are consenting, it is not the state's business and certainly not Partido's business what anyone does in private.
Same-sex unions are a matter of equality. All citizens should be treated the same regardless of their sex life.
It is not up to Partido to enforce God's laws as he interprets them. The Bible says, "Judge not lest ye be judged." Is this not God's law, also?
The Rev. Otto Cleveland
Creating new symbol isn't time well spent
Up for consideration in our Legislature is House Bill 659
to designate the taro as the state plant. Hawaii already has a state tree (the candlenut or kukui), a state flower (the pua aloalo or hibiscus), and now our elected leaders want to adopt a state plant? Don't get me wrong, I love poi, but c'mon now, can't they focus on more critical issues than designating a state plant?
Woman hit by SUV was not 'elderly'
In the Feb. 23 story
headlined "SUV injures Beretania pedestrian" the reporter wrote, "An elderly woman was hit by a utility vehicle" after the driver "made a left turn onto Beretania Street where a 64-year old woman was heading north across the street."
Maybe the reporter is trying to make the point that older people are frequent targets for careless drivers, but 64 is not "elderly."
Wrightsville Beach, N.C.